Nancy Mace (R-SC)
American Family Cost-of-Living Relief Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The American Family Cost-of-Living Relief Act of 2026 requires federal agencies to perform specific analyses regarding how their proposed and final rules impact household costs. Agencies must prepare an initial analysis detailing if a rule substantially increases costs and how it affects different income levels. After public comment, a final analysis must be prepared and published in the Federal Register. Agencies are generally prohibited from finalizing rules that substantially increase household costs unless the rule is required by law or addresses a national security threat, a major disaster, or an emergency. Furthermore, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget must conduct annual reviews of major rules in effect.
Yes· 3 of 14
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires agencies to publish household cost impact analyses in the Federal Register for public comment.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill mandates that agencies specifically analyze and report how rules affect households based on their income level.
- Scored +3
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
The bill aims to prevent federal regulations from substantially increasing the annual cost of living for households.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill places new procedural constraints and oversight requirements on the exercise of federal agency rulemaking authority.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency for Families: Agencies are required to prepare an initial household cost impact analysis that includes a statement on whether a rule increases costs and a description of how those increases affect households based on income level (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Public Input Opportunities: The bill requires agencies to make their initial cost impact analysis available for public comment in the Federal Register (Section 2(a)(1)(2)).
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Accountability for Cost Increases: Agencies are prohibited from finalizing rules that substantially increase household costs—defined as an increase of $50 or more a year—unless the rule is required by law or necessitated by a national security threat, a major disaster, or an emergency (Section 2(a)(3) and Section 2(g)(6)).
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Ongoing Oversight of Major Rules: The Director of the Office of Management and Budget must review and publish an annual report identifying major rules that have substantially increased household costs and providing recommendations to amend or repeal them (Section 2(a)(6)).
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Legal Recourse for Households: Any household adversely affected or aggrieved by final agency action is entitled to judicial review regarding whether the agency complied with the requirements of this act (Section 2(a) [553B(a)]).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Temporary Implementation of Costly Rules: In cases where a rule is deemed necessary due to a national security threat, a major disaster, or an emergency, the rule may remain in effect for up to one year even if it substantially increases household costs (Section 2(a)(5)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill mandates that agencies specifically analyze and report how rules affect households based on their income level. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill aims to prevent federal regulations from substantially increasing the annual cost of living for households. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill provides a mechanism to identify and recommend repealing rules that substantially increase costs for living. Would children be better off under this? — The bill includes child care costs in its protection against substantial increases via agency rulemaking. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill protects against cost increases for essential goods which benefits those on fixed incomes. Would women be better off under this? — The bill includes childcare and essential goods in its cost-impact oversight requirements.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires agencies to publish household cost impact analyses in the Federal Register for public comment. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill grants households the right to judicial review regarding agency compliance with cost-impact requirements. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill places new procedural constraints and oversight requirements on the exercise of federal agency rulemaking authority.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill includes housing-related expenditures within the scope of essential goods and services subject to cost-impact analysis. Does this make child care cost less? — The bill includes childcare within the scope of essential goods and services subject to cost-impact analysis. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill protects lower-income households by requiring agencies to analyze how rules affect different income levels.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to slow the rise in prices? — The bill limits the implementation of new agency rules that would substantially increase the cost of living for households. Is this likely to grow the economy? — By restricting regulations that raise household costs, the bill aims to protect consumer purchasing power.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill includes education and workforce expenses in its definition of essential household costs subject to impact analysis.
- 4/30/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Thomas MassieRepublican · Kentucky